Universal expansion case



y 1950 F. D. SMITH UNIVERSAL EXPANSION CASE Filed March 12, 1946 INVENTOR.

, I I a Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to cases or shelves embodying prefabricated sections of box-like formation, havin means whereby the various sections may be readily and accurately placed squarely one upon another, wholly or partly, which enables them to expand and stack in a variety of ways, thus approximately doubling their apparent storage capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide sectional units that may be easily changed about and used to transport most of the contents of the stacked arrangement and easily restacked to fit a new space.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sectional case assembly wherein means is provided for holding the case sections in position against movement with respect to each other, eliminating the necessity of providing clamps or similar securing means for securing the sections together.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating a number of case sections assembled in the formation of a case assembly of a particular design illustrating stacking possibilities.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the pairs of spaced bars secured on the bottom ends of a case and also bars at the front and rear edges.

Figure 3 is a perspective view taken from the top of a case section, illustrating the bars that fit between the bars secured to the bottom of the adjacent upper case section. The top set of bars is shown open for best looks and most uses, but may be closed with another bar when and if desired.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of one arrangement of the sections.

Referrin to the drawing in detail, the case assembly embodies a number of sections which, in the present showing, are similar in construction, however, it is to be understood that the size and shape of the case sections may be varied to meet various requirements of use.

Each case section embodies a top 5, a bottom 6, end walls I, and a rear wall 8. The front of the section may be open, as shown, or have doors, drawers, or partitions.

Secured to the top 5 at points adjacent to the end walls thereof, are bars 9 that extend transversely of the case, the outer surfaces of the bars being spaced from the ends of the case, the distances equal to the width of a bar 9. The rear ends of the bars 9 connect with the rear bar Ill which is spaced in from the rear edge by one bar width. The front of the bars 9 are one bar width from the front edge of the case. This arrangement besides mating successfully with the bottom serves as a conventional topcase retaining ledge and enables the case to look well and be used alone if desired.

Secured to the lower surface of the bottom 6 are pairs of bars H at each end, the bars of each pair being spaced apart a distance equal to the Width of a bar a so that when a section is placed upon another section in the formation of a case, the bars 9 will fit between the bars ll of the adjacent upper section, securing the sections against movement longitudinally, with respect to each other.

Bars l2 and it are arranged along the bottom and are disposed along the front and rear edges respectively, of the section. This base arrangement, besides mating successfully With the top, gives added thickness to the base, and enables the case to look well and be used alone if desired.

Both ends of the bars II are spaced from the longitudinal bars l2 and I3 by one bar width, thus reversibly providing a space so that when two sections are placed together, one upon another, the rear ends of the bars I I will engage the bar IU of the adjacent lower section and restrict rearward movement of the upper section with respect to the lower section, and the rear bar I3 of the bottom against bar in of the top will prevent any forward movement, thereby securing the adjacent sections together without the necessity of providing clamps or other securing means.

The spaces on the bottom ends between the ends of bars ll, l2 and I3, provide for reversing the faces of the cases. If no reversing was intended, the front space could be closed unless bar 10 was added to front of top. The Figure 1 shows these cases expanding longitudinally. They can also be made to expand crossways and/or stack on wider lower cases by adding open spaces (bar width) in front and rear bars I 2 as required.

It is also quite possible to apply this guide system to two or more surfaces (including opening as a possible surface) of a case. Thus, if a case had a basic square cross-section and the length was multiples thereof, they would be universal, stacking and expanding squarely in practically any position, that is, on top, sides, bottom, opening, ends, crossing, etc. For crossing, the longitudinal basebars I2 would need spaced openings likethose shown at ends of base and additional cross-bars H at some points.

A base board indicated at [4 may be used'as a base for the positioning of the various sections of the case, as shown by Figures71 and 4' of the drawing, however, it is contemplated to also use the sections without the base board *shouldit be so desired, positioning the. lower case sections directly on the floor surface.

Due to this construction, it will beseen that the sections may be arranged in various ways to 'form difierent case designs, and that" by using 'sections of various lengths, desirable case arrangements may be formed.

What =isolaimed is:

A-sectionahcase assembly'comprising box-like 2;, sections, a longitudinal bar secured along each =front and 'reare'dge of the bottom of each" section sand ab'arfdisposed' longitudinally ofthe rear edge adapted-to fit between the pairs of bars on the lower surface of the adjacent upper section, and the rear end of one bar of each pair of bars engaging the longitudinally disposed bar of the adjacent lower section, holding the Sections against horizontal movement with respect to each other in'any direction, when the sections are placed together in the formation of a case.

FREDERICK DALE SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the "file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 8419872 Hunter Jan. 22, 1907 I 889,741 Additon June 2, 1908 2,283,301 Waddell 'May 19, 1942 

